Red Bulls trade Mathis to the Galaxy

SECAUCUS, N.J. -- The New York Red Bulls traded all-time
leading scorer Clint Mathis to the Los Angeles Galaxy on Monday,
getting a third-round pick in the MLS SuperDraft.

The trade sends midfielder Mathis, who turns 31 next week, back
to the team where he began his pro career in 1998 and unites him
with David Beckham.

Mathis, who has 46 caps with the U.S. national team, including
the 2002 World Cup, had six goals and two assists in 26 games with
the Red Bulls this season.

"By acquiring this pick, we will now be able to have a
selection in every round of the 2008 SuperDraft," Red Bulls
technical director Jeff Agoos said. "This allows us more
flexibility moving forward."

Mathis is the Red Bulls' all-time leading goal-scorer in all
competitions with 45. He broke Giovanni Savarese's record in a 5-4
win over the Galaxy on Aug. 18. He played in 22 of the team's first
24 games, including 18 starts, but fell out of favor with manager
Bruce Arena and made only one start after Sept. 9.

He played only in the final four minutes of a first-leg playoff
match against New England and then played the final 64 minutes of
the second leg, a 1-0 loss, replacing an injured Claudio Reyna.
Arena resigned two days after the second leg.

Mathis played with the team from 2000-2003, when it was known as
the MetroStars. He earned MLS Best honors in 2000 after finishing
with 16 goals and 14 assists. He had a league single-game record
five goals against Dallas that season.

Mathis played 2 1/2 seasons with the Galaxy to begin his career,
and could be a replacement for Cobi Jones, his former teammate on
the U.S. national team who retired after a 12-year career with the
Galaxy.